CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia Will Thompson announced a multitude of indictments have been handed out to people for their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Huntington area.
A total of 27 people were indicted Wednesday. Of the 27, Thompson said 22 have been arrested, with five still out of jail. The individuals are “responsible for distributing large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in and around Huntington.”
The indictments come after an eight-month investigation involving multiple states.
“This case reflects the continuing commitment of this office to target the individuals who threaten our communities with these drugs and the violence that accompanies drug trafficking,” Thompson said. “This case also provides the latest example of the exemplary investigative effort and determined teamwork of our many law enforcement partners.”
Law enforcement agencies obtained multiple search and arrest warrants, with some of them being executed on Wednesday, November 15.
According to Thompson’s office, approximately two pounds of methamphetamine, two pounds of fentanyl, 26 firearms and $10,500 have been seized by officers.
Thompson says the group includes people from states outside of West Virginia including Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. The following people were indicted:
Kayla Dawn Powell, 37, of Hurricane;
Christopher Anthony O’Dell, 38, of Hurricane;
Denzil Roger Grant II, 49, of Hurricane;
Georgia Alice Jackson, 31, of Huntington;
Donald James Duty, 51, of Huntington;
Shakur Raekwan Joyce, 23, of Huntington;
Kyla Smith, 28, of Huntington;
Walter Alvin Cremeans, 56, of Culloden.
Gary Diaz, 66, of Nitro;
Sharon Teston, aka Angie Marie Cogar, 47, of Nitro;
Ladonna Rae Abner, 49, of Nitro;
Paul Anthony Rucker, 46, of Nitro;
Jerry D. Pemberton, 47, of Ironton, Ohio;
Thomas Shane Holland, 53, of Salt Rock;
Tylar Harrison Harless, 25, of Tomahawk, Kentucky;
Charles Clinton Cordle, 65, of Ashland, Kentucky;
Josie Irene Copley, 58, of Flatwoods, Kentucky;
Derrell Cashawn Massey, 33, of Detroit, Michigan;
Talon Aaron McIntosh, 27, of Detroit, Michigan;
Trevon Eaarle Godfrey, 27, of Detroit, Michigan;
Tyrone John Thurmond, 23, of Detroit, Michigan;
Jashawn William Lawson, 22, of Detroit, Michigan;
Mario Alonzo Pettway III, 23, of Detroit, Michigan;
Hakeem Rashad Mack, 30, of Detroit, Michigan;
Vernard Antonio Brown, 32, of Detroit, Michigan;
Mark Lawrence Lowe, 22, of Detroit, Michigan;
Nehmiah Allen-Griggs, 22, of Dallas, Georgia;
“Today’s arrests are an example of a combined effort of federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies working together to indict these 27 individuals, who were bringing large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl to the Huntington area for an extended period of time, and taking these individuals off the street,” said Cabell County Sheriff Chuck Zerkle.
Multiple federal, state and local law enforcement agencies were involved in the months-long investigation and arrests.